as in shrimp
a person of no importance or influence
the magazine's editor in chief was notorious for treating staffers as insects, often not even bothering to learn their names
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Recent Examples of insects
Now, researchers have built a system that keeps working even after losing half its sensing ability, inspired by how insects navigate.
—
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 23 Mar. 2026
Aggressive turning or tilling harms microorganisms, kills beneficial insects and earthworms, increases erosion, removes air pockets, releases carbon into the atmosphere and brings dormant weed seeds to the surface, where conditions are perfect for their growth.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
Four restaurants were temporarily closed and some were noted to have issues with rodents and insects during the latest round of Tarrant County health inspections, according to the inspection report.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Mar. 2026
Yet insects may also be attracted to scents unpleasant to us as several notable plant species instruct.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
Unlike iguanas, which feed on plants and vegetation, these lizards have a broad diet and eat insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and their eggs and small mammals, according to the FWC.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
Venture into this living kaleidoscope of color and learn all about the importance of pollinating insects.
—Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 19 Mar. 2026
Their diet depends heavily on flower nectar and tiny insects, both of which become scarce during colder months.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 19 Mar. 2026
Too much indoor moisture allows mold, dust mites, insects and other sources of allergens to thrive.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 23 Mar. 2026
Aggressive turning or tilling harms microorganisms, kills beneficial insects and earthworms, increases erosion, removes air pockets, releases carbon into the atmosphere and brings dormant weed seeds to the surface, where conditions are perfect for their growth.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
Four restaurants were temporarily closed and some were noted to have issues with rodents and insects during the latest round of Tarrant County health inspections, according to the inspection report.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Mar. 2026
Yet insects may also be attracted to scents unpleasant to us as several notable plant species instruct.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
Unlike iguanas, which feed on plants and vegetation, these lizards have a broad diet and eat insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and their eggs and small mammals, according to the FWC.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
Venture into this living kaleidoscope of color and learn all about the importance of pollinating insects.
—Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 19 Mar. 2026
Their diet depends heavily on flower nectar and tiny insects, both of which become scarce during colder months.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 19 Mar. 2026
Too much indoor moisture allows mold, dust mites, insects and other sources of allergens to thrive.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insects
Noun
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As zonky cross-generational ciphers go, the group’s debut, Strictly 4 the Scythe, is no Hypnotize Camp Posse, the amalgam of Three 6 Mafia and a grip of artists signed to their Hypnotize Minds label in the early 2000s.—
Dylan Green,
Pitchfork,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The still-unidentified Zodiac Killer, who terrorized the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1960s, frequently sent threats, demands and ciphers to multiple local papers — namely the San Francisco Chronicle.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In the lightweights, Cash McClurg (108 pounds) and Emilio Escobar (120) won titles, the latter winning 21-5 for a technical fall.—
Breven Honda,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Hughes is one of the world's top lightweights in MMA, the sport where McGregor built his following and name.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Seattle’s John Schneider and New England’s Eliot Wolf rose up from young nobodies to graduate from Green Bay Packers University, too.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Feb. 2026
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Where else could award winning writers pop off about nothing at all, and nobodies could rattle the ivory towers?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The Dodgers’ $850-million annual revenue dwarfs competitors like the Diamondbacks at $324 million, exemplifying the financial gulf driving owners’ desire for cost controls.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Beyond rock and ice The finding of L 98-59 d challenges the long-standing astronomical belief that small exoplanets must be either gas dwarfs or water worlds covered in ice and oceans.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Insects.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insects. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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